At least 21 displaced Palestinians, most of them children, have died from extreme cold in Gaza displacement camps since the start of Israel's war on the enclave.
The deaths occurred among families living in makeshift shelters that offer little protection from harsh winter conditions, warning of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe as the cold wave continues to hit the enclave.
The death toll includes 18 children, highlighting what the office described as the grave vulnerability of displaced families, especially infants and young children forced to live in tents without heating, insulation and basic winter supplies.
It is reported that the recent cold-related deaths are a direct consequence of the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, the Israeli blockade, and the forced displacement of more than 1.5 million Palestinians.
The Gaza government's media office warned that the ongoing cold wave could further increase the death toll, especially among children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, as the winter weather intensifies in the coming days.
According to the media office, four people have died from cold-related causes since the start of the current winter season in December alone, amid a severe shortage of heating equipment, winter clothing, blankets and safe shelter.
Palestinian meteorological officials said a new low-pressure system began to affect Gaza on Friday, bringing torrential rains, strong winds and plummeting temperatures, with wind speeds reaching up to 60 km/h in some areas.
The Gaza Civil Defense said the storm damaged or destroyed thousands of displacement tents, adding that dozens of buildings already weakened by previous Israeli bombardments collapsed during the latest weather conditions, causing further casualties. /AA
